In short: £960 a year covers preparing your company's statutory annual accounts and filing them with Companies House, and preparing and filing its Company Tax Return (CT600) with HMRC. We work from your bookkeeping records, calculate the Corporation Tax due, send everything to you to approve, and track the deadlines. Accounts are due 9 months after the year end (21 months after incorporation for the first accounts); the tax return is due 12 months after the end of the accounting period.
What's included
- Review of your bookkeeping records and bank statements
- Year-end adjustments
- Statutory accounts in the correct format for your company size
- Directors' report and balance sheet statements where required
- Filing of accounts with Companies House
- Corporation Tax computation
- Company Tax Return (CT600) and iXBRL accounts filed with HMRC
- Advice on the Corporation Tax payment deadline
- Accounts sent to you to approve before filing
- Deadline tracking and reminders
Who needs this service
Every UK limited company that trades must, each year:
- prepare statutory accounts and file them with Companies House, and
- file a Company Tax Return (CT600) with HMRC, together with its accounts and tax computation, and pay any Corporation Tax due.
These are two separate filings to two separate bodies. This service covers both, so you only deal with one team. It suits small and growing private limited companies, including companies whose directors live outside the UK.
Deadlines
- First accounts to Companies House: 21 months after the date of incorporation.
- Later accounts to Companies House: 9 months after the end of the company's financial year.
- Corporation Tax payment: usually 9 months and 1 day after the end of the accounting period.
- Company Tax Return (CT600): 12 months after the end of the accounting period.
Note that the tax is due before the return. We prepare both together so you know how much to pay in good time.
What happens if you are late
Companies House charges an automatic penalty for late accounts: £150 for up to a month late, rising to £1,500 for more than 6 months, and doubled if the accounts are late two years in a row. HMRC charges separate penalties for a late tax return, plus interest on late tax. Persistent failure to file accounts can lead to the company being struck off the register.
How it works
- Order online. We confirm your company's year end and deadlines.
- Send us your bookkeeping records, bank statements and any invoices or receipts we ask for. If your records are not up to date, our bookkeeping service can help.
- We prepare the draft accounts and tax computation and explain the key figures.
- You approve the accounts. A director signs the balance sheet.
- We file the accounts with Companies House and the CT600 with HMRC, and tell you how much Corporation Tax to pay and by when.
Which accounts format applies
Most small companies can file simplified accounts. Very small companies may qualify as micro-entities, which allows the shortest form. Larger companies, or those in certain sectors, have fuller requirements and may need an audit. We confirm the right format for your company before we start. If the company did not trade, see Dormant Company Accounts instead.
Filing software
HMRC's free online service for filing accounts and Company Tax Returns closed on 31 March 2026. Returns now have to be filed through commercial software. We use HMRC-recognised software, so you do not need to buy any yourself.
What you need to provide
- Bookkeeping records or bank statements for the full financial year
- Sales and purchase invoices, receipts and loan details
- Details of any assets bought or sold
- Directors' loan account and dividend information
- Your company's Corporation Tax UTR
What the price covers
£960 is for a standard small trading company with records in reasonable order. If your company has a very high number of transactions, several currencies, stock, or needs an audit, we will give you a quote before starting. Personal tax returns for directors are a separate service: see Self Assessment.
Common mistakes
- Paying Corporation Tax late because the return deadline is later
- Confusing the first accounts deadline with later ones
- Taking dividends without enough profit to cover them
- Not keeping records for the required period — usually at least 6 years
Frequently asked questions
Does the price include the Corporation Tax return?
Yes. £960 covers both the statutory accounts filed with Companies House and the Company Tax Return (CT600) filed with HMRC.
When are my company's accounts due?
First accounts are due 21 months after incorporation. After that, accounts are due 9 months after the end of each financial year.
When do I pay Corporation Tax?
Usually 9 months and 1 day after the end of the accounting period, which is before the tax return deadline of 12 months.
What happens if my accounts are late?
Companies House charges an automatic penalty from £150 up to £1,500 for a private company, doubled if accounts are late two years in a row. HMRC charges its own penalties for late tax returns.
Can I file my company accounts with HMRC's free online tool?
No longer. HMRC's free service closed on 31 March 2026, so Company Tax Returns must now be filed using commercial software. We file through recognised software for you.
Do you prepare directors' personal tax returns too?
Yes, as a separate service. See our Self Assessment tax return service for directors' personal returns.
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